Chicago Red Stars

Establishment (2006–2009)

In 2006, it was announced that Chicago would have a team in a new league being developed for women's professional soccer. It would eventually join six other teams, Washington Freedom, Boston Breakers, Los Angeles Sol, FC Gold Pride, Sky Blue FC, and Saint Louis Athletica in Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) for the league's inaugural season in 2009.

Marcia McDermott, a former head coach of the Northwestern University women's soccer team and WUSA team Carolina Courage, was named as the Red Stars' general manager.

On June 3, 2008, the "Red Stars" name was announced in a ceremony at Toyota Park. The name refers to the four six-pointed red stars on the municipal flag of Chicago. Each star represents a landmark event in Chicago history: Fort Dearborn, the Great Chicago Fire, the 1893 World’s Fair, and the 1933 World's Fair. Other names considered were Progress, Towers, Union, Blues, 1871 and Wind. [1]. "Red Stars" was chosen by popular vote in a two-month fan ballot.

2009 inaugural season

The Chicago Red Stars won their first game of the season, 1–0, at Saint Louis Athletica, and followed with two ties (1–1 at Washington Freedom and 0–0 hosting Sky Blue FC) and a 4–0 thrashing of Boston Breakers at Toyota Park. This gave the team the best starting record of any team in the league besides eventual season champions Los Angeles Sol, seeming to live up to preseason expectations based on the strong core of USWNT and international players on the Red Stars roster.

Despite their strong start, the Red Stars then went winless for their next nine games, only getting three away draws in that streak, which included a 451-minute-long scoring drought. Their opponents, the Washington Freedom scored first in the next game and it appeared the streak would continue. However, the Red Stars made WPS history by becoming the first team to successfully come from behind, to win 2–1. They also beat cellar-dwellers FC Gold Pride in their next game 3–1, but then lost four of their last five games, eliminating them from the playoffs as they ended the season in sixth place.

True to his agreement to see the Red Stars organization through its first season, Peter Wilt chose to step down as team CEO at the end of 2009, moving on to become general manager of the Milwaukee Wave, the NISL team in his hometown. General Manager, Marcia McDermott, took on many of his responsibilities at the Red Stars, although he continued to support the team as one of its representatives on the Women's Professional Soccer Board of Governors and as President of the Chicago Red Stars Charitable Foundation.

2010 season

The Red Stars opened up their second season with high hopes and many new faces. In their first game, the Red Stars lost 1–0 at Sky Blue FC despite dominating much of the game. A 1–1 home tie in their second game earned the Stars their first point of the 2010 season.

After a successful 2010, the team left WPS on December 13; unable to meet the league's funding requirements for the 2011 season.

2011 season

Red Stars joined the Women's Premier Soccer League for 2011. They played their home games at Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex in west suburban Chicago.

The new roster consisted of players from the WNT U-20 and U-23 pools, as well as collegiate stars. The first players announced included three players with WPS experience, including two from the Red Stars' 2010 squad. It was coached by Rory Dames, a Chicago native. Red Stars also continued their activity in the Chicago soccer community through their soccer camp programs.

Red Stars finished the regular season with a 10–1 record, and hosted the playoff semifinals and championship matches. While they beat Tampa Bay Hellenic 2–1 in their semifinal, they lost by the same score in the final to the Orange County Waves, another WPSL team that has past WPS connections.

2012 season

In 2012, Red Stars joined two other former WPS clubs, Boston Breakers and Western New York Flash, in the new WPSL Elite League. Five other former WPSL teams joined the league, including ASA Chesapeake Charge, FC Indiana, New England Mutiny, New York Fury, and Philadelphia Fever.

Red Stars finished fourth in the league, making the playoffs and advanced to the final, where they lost to Flash in a 2–4 penalty shootout, after a 1–1 draw at the end of extra time. Impressively, the Red Stars also won the 2012 National Women's Cup with just half the roster, as the Cup final occurred at the same time as their final WPSL Elite regular season match against eventual third-placed New York Fury.

National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)

In November 2012, it was announced that the Red Stars would be one of eight teams in a new women's professional soccer league, then yet to be named, which would be subsidized by the United States Soccer Federation, the Canadian Soccer Association and the Mexican Football Federation. The league started competition in Spring of 2013.

2013 season

In the inaugural season of NWSL, Red Stars started with 2 draws and 4 losses. The mid-season arrival of 2 Germans, Sonja Fuss and Inka Grings, from Europe revived the team somewhat, but not enough to qualify for the post-season playoffs. Red Stars played 22 matches with 8 wins, 8 ties and 6 losses to finish the season at sixth place in an eight team league.

2014 season

In 2014, Red Stars finished one place better than previous season, in fifth place in regular season. This season, the club was waiting for United States international Christen Press to join after completing her commitment to a European club, and the Canadian international Melissa Tancredi to gain full fitness after her education. In addition, the team signed 2 other internationals, Abby Erceg and Emily van Egmond in May. Despite the late arrival of international stars, at the end of May the team had 6 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses; a competitive team performance enabled by rookies Julie Johnston, Vanessa DiBernardo, Hayley Brock, young players Jen Hoy, Rachel Quon, and veteran stalwarts Lori Chalupny, Michelle Wenino, and goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc. With a mid-season slump of 1 win in 11 matches during June and July, the team eventually did not qualify for post-season playoffs; edged out by head to head results with Washington Spirit.

2015 season

The Red Stars started the 2015 season with home games, a 3–2 win over previous season's Supporting Shield winner Seattle Reign FC, followed by a 2–2 draw with Portland Thorns FC, and a 1-0 win over Sky Blue FC. With Christen Press scoring 4 of the first 5 goals for Red Stars, Press was named the Player of the Month of April. With the national teams members out training for 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, rookie Sofia Huerta scored multiple goals in 2 matches and was named NWSL Player of the Week for week 5, as well as week 6; and was also named NWSL Player of the Month of June. The team held first place during regular season from week 4 to week 13 and finished second. However, in the playoff the team lost in the semi-final to FC Kansas City.

Crest and colors

The primary logo combines two heraldic Chicago images: the shape of the shield is taken from it equivalent inside the city of Chicago’s official seal. The colors, stripes, and stars in the logo are all inspired by the symbolism of Chicago’s municipal flag, with the blue stripes representing the two branches of the Chicago River. The six points on the large red star in the center of the Chicago Red Stars logo also have their own meaning to the team:

Adrenalin, Inc., and jlmvisual partnered to jointly develop the Red Stars identity.

Stadiums

During the team's membership in Women's Professional Soccer, Chicago Red Stars played at Toyota Park, a world-class soccer-specific stadium, with 20,000 dedicated seats for soccer. It is best known as the home of Chicago Fire Soccer Club.

From 2011 to 2015, in Women's Premier Soccer League, Women's Premier Soccer League Elite league and National Women's Soccer League, Red Stars played their matches at the Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex. The university stadium seats 3,000. In 2012 season, in the WPSL-Elite league, some matches were played at Concordia University Chicago Athletic Complex in River Forest, Illinois as well as the Lakeside Athletic Field at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois due to renovation construction at Benectine University.

In December 2015, Chicago Red Stars announced the return to Toyota Park for their home games for 2016 NWSL season.

WPS (2009–2010)

The Chicago Professional Women's Soccer, LLC investor and partner group was the owner of the Chicago Red Stars from 2009–2010 during the team's membership in Women's Professional Soccer. In April 2010, the team's management group consisted of Gary Weaver, Jim Willett, and Arnim Whisler. The Illinois Women's Soccer League (IWSL) also signed on as a partner. In addition to the IWSL, the team's leadership included shareholders John (Jack) Cummins, Robert and Susan Morrison, Jim and Kathi Willett, Dale Weaver, Gary Weaver, Pin Ni, Dong Li, Arnim Whisler, Dean Egerter, Stephen Ritchie and Peter Wilt.

WPSL (2011), WPSL E (2012) and NWSL (2013–present)

Arnim Whisler was the only investor left after the 2010 season, he decided to keep the team going for the 2011 season in the WPSL while working to help reorganize a professional women's soccer league. WPS.

He remains the owner of the Chicago Red Stars during the inaugural season of the NWSL

Current squad

Where a player has not declared an international allegiance, nation is determined by place of birth. Squad correct as of April 11, 2016.

Coaching staff

Rory Dames has been the head coach of Red Stars since 2011, coaching the team since its days in WPSL and WPSL Elite. Assistant coaches are Bonnie Young, Brian Kibler and Jordi King who serves as goalkeeper coach.

Head coaches

Former notable players

See also All-time Chicago Red Stars roster

Former members of the team who have represented a senior national team are:

Honors

2012 Open Cup Champions

WPS individual awards